Podcast 010 | A "weather update" just before harvest with Piero Lanza from Poggerino winery
Piero Lanza from Poggerino winery
Today, I'm visiting Piero Lanza again at his Poggerino winery in Radda in Chianti. During my last visit for episode number 8, we decided to meet up again at the end of summer to chat about the weather. That's because the weather plays a super important role in winemaking, especially in the weeks leading up to harvest. Piero is going to tell us more about it now.
A Summer Full of Challenges
Piero explains that there's been almost no rain since our last meeting. The only exception was one Saturday morning that brought four hours of light rain, which was actually good for the vines. The biggest challenge was an unusually hot spell from August 11th to 15th, with temperatures hitting up to 38°C. Piero was worried about the grapes, but luckily, the damage was minimal because the Radda area is cooler than others.
The harvest has actually already started in some parts. Piero shares that they picked the Sangiovese grapes for his Rosé sparkling wine at the end of August. For sparkling wine, it's key to vinify grapes with lots of acidity and low sugar to make sure the alcohol content stays low. A small Merlot vineyard was also harvested, but the main harvest is still coming up. Piero stresses that the weather in the next few days is super important for figuring out the perfect time to harvest. They're hoping for some rain to help improve the balance between the fleshy part and the juice of the berries.
The Perks of Organic Farming
Piero has been running the Poggerino winery organically for years, and he's convinced it helps the vines handle extreme weather conditions better. The roots go deeper into the soil, and the soil can hold rainwater more effectively. This is super important because it's barely rained in the last three months. Younger vines have more trouble since their roots don't go as deep as older ones.
So, to sum it up, we're hoping for some rain in the next few days and cool weather during harvest to make sure we get a good vintage. Piero is staying optimistic and hopes the grapes will make it to the cellar in excellent condition.
I'll be back again this year to record another podcast with Piero and give an update on the harvest situation. Maybe we'll also chat about the olive oil harvest then, which is another exciting topic!
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